## Chapter 54 – Hilda. A Date? # 1
Number 25 stood in front of Charlotte’s room, meticulously straightening his clothes once more. His tie was perfectly in place, and his shirt was tucked neatly into his trousers. He was confident that his appearance was beyond reproach.
He took a breath and knocked twice on the door. As if she had been waiting, Charlotte’s voice called out for him to enter. He turned the handle, and the door opened with a soft click.
The scene inside Charlotte’s room was exactly as it had been before he left District 6.
The most striking thing, of course, was Charlotte herself, sitting on the edge of the bed. Despite the approaching lunchtime, she had removed her maid uniform and was wearing only a thin black undergarment.
Number 25 stood awkwardly in the doorway, breathless at the sight of Charlotte’s body. She slowly broke the silence.
“What are you standing there for? Close the door and come sit here before anyone else comes.”
Snapping out of his daze, Number 25 quickly closed the door and sat down next to Charlotte.
Charlotte stared silently at Number 25’s profile as he sat beside her. A smile of pure joy finally spread across her face, a joy that came from being alone with him. Just looking at him was enough. This was surely the emotion one would call love. Charlotte crossed her legs, rested her chin on her hand, and gazed at Number 25 with eyes lost in bliss.
Number 25 felt awkward in the current situation. Usually, when Charlotte summoned him to her room, it was for a single, specific purpose. It was the first time he had experienced her gaze simply scanning his body without any action or conversation.
As Number 25 expected, Charlotte’s fingertips slowly began to trace his body. The first place her fingers touched was his sharp jawline. It didn’t take long for them to travel from his jaw to his neck, from his neck to his collarbone, and from his collarbone to his chest.
Number 25 knew that Charlotte didn’t intend to hurt him, but he shuddered each time her sharp, knife-like nails touched his skin.
Charlotte leaned even closer to Number 25 than before and whispered softly in his ear.
“It’s been a week and a day since we were last alone in this room, hasn’t it? Didn’t you miss me? I couldn’t stop thinking about you, so I couldn’t focus on work and just kept pleasuring myself…”
Number 25 replied immediately.
“I missed you too.”
Hearing those words, Charlotte’s smile became even more radiant. She embraced Number 25, buried her face in his neck, and took a deep breath. The warm scent of blood flowing beneath his skin ignited a desire to possess his blood, a desire that had been building for a week. She had never felt this way before. She suspected that her longing for him had transformed into a desire to consume him, to possess him completely through vampirism.
However, if a wound on his neck were discovered, Acer would immediately find out.
Desperate to suppress her desire, Charlotte pulled away slightly from Number 25 and casually asked another question.
“Anyway… you’re a little late today, aren’t you? Why were you late?”
He couldn’t lie to her. Though he felt sorry for Hilda, he decided to answer honestly.
“I… I was hanging out with a friend. I’m sorry.”
Charlotte’s slender eyes widened again.
“A friend? You have friends in this castle?”
It wasn’t a mocking question. She was genuinely surprised that Number 25, who always followed her or Acer around, had made a friend. On one hand, she was proud that he had built relationships on his own, but on the other hand, she was curious about who that person was.
“Yes…”
Number 25 didn’t mention Hilda’s name directly, fearing it might cause her trouble. Charlotte paused for a moment, thinking of someone who might befriend Number 25.
“Are you talking about the one who got you drunk?”
But Charlotte, who managed all the maids in the castle, couldn’t possibly be unaware. Sharply noticing Number 25’s slight tremble, Charlotte nodded as if she understood everything.
“I see… It’s her. Hilda, was it? She’s quite capable, except for secretly drinking. Though she probably thinks she hasn’t been caught yet.”
When Hilda’s name came out of Charlotte’s mouth, Number 25 grabbed Charlotte’s hand and pleaded.
“Hilda didn’t do anything wrong. I… I was the one who suggested drinking first, and I was the one who asked her to hang out today. So…”
Number 25’s voice grew tearful. He feared that Hilda would be punished by Charlotte because of his mistake. Charlotte flicked Number 25’s forehead with her finger and chuckled in disbelief.
“Do you think I would harm a friend you worked so hard to make?”
Number 25 barely calmed his racing heart. But Charlotte’s eyes gleamed mischievously again.
“Still, you did something naughty behind my back, didn’t you? That means you’re ready to be punished, right?”
Before Number 25 could offer any excuses, Charlotte grabbed his carefully straightened tie and pushed him onto the bed.
In an instant, Charlotte was on top of Number 25, her gaze sliding over his body like a viscous snake.
Even though he was fully clothed, he felt naked under Charlotte’s gaze.
Suddenly, the weight on his body disappeared. Number 25 opened his eyes slightly and asked Charlotte, who had returned to her original position and was getting dressed, in a puzzled tone.
“Aren’t you going to…?”
Charlotte turned her head slightly and replied with a smile.
“Why? Did you want me to? You’ve become such a bad boy while I was away, haven’t you?”
Charlotte stopped getting dressed and moved her hand to Number 25’s groin. A shiver ran down his spine as she touched his testicles. Number 25 looked directly into Charlotte’s eyes, as if expecting something, but Charlotte averted her gaze and began to dress again.
“Didn’t I tell you earlier? I couldn’t focus on work because of you? I have a lot of work piled up because of that. Besides, it’s been a while since I’ve seen Master so happy. Shouldn’t I play the part of a proper servant sometimes? I’m sorry, but you’ll have to be patient for a while.”
He never imagined that such words would come from Charlotte, who knew nothing of restraint. Number 25 could only stare blankly as Charlotte finished dressing, a look of emptiness in his eyes.
After getting dressed, Charlotte stood up and left the room, leaving Number 25 with one last remark.
“But you’ll be punished later for making me lonely, so you can look forward to that.”
●
By the time he left Charlotte’s room, lunchtime was approaching. Thanks to the food Hilda had given him earlier, he wasn’t hungry, but he was worried about Acer. He hadn’t eaten breakfast because he was busy, and Number 25 was concerned that he might skip lunch as well.
Number 25 made his way to Acer’s office.
He knocked on the door, but unlike when he entered Charlotte’s room, he opened the door without waiting for permission. Acer looked up from his desk and smiled at Number 25, who had opened the door and entered.
“What brings you here? Did you miss me so much that you couldn’t wait?”
Before Number 25 could answer, Acer patted his thigh, as he had done before.
“Ah, don’t just stand there, come sit here.”
Number 25 sat on Acer’s lap with familiar ease. Acer felt Number 25’s weight and hugged him tightly from behind. If Charlotte allowed it, he would work in this position all day. Number 25 belatedly explained why he had come.
“Aren’t you going to have lunch, Master?”
“I’m afraid I can’t eat with you today, I have too much work to do…”
As Acer said this, his desk was piled high with documents and small snacks like fruit. Following Number 25’s gaze, Acer pulled the bowl of fruit closer to Number 25 and asked.
“If you’re okay with it, would you like to eat some of this with me?”
“I’m fine.”
He hadn’t come because he was hungry. Acer returned the fruit to its original position and hugged Number 25 even tighter as he spoke.
“Is that why you came? I’m sorry for making you worry.”
“It’s okay. It can’t be helped if you’re busy.”
“Oh, and I said we’d see each other tonight, didn’t I? I don’t think I’ll have time for that either…”
Those were the saddest words he had heard so far.
Charlotte was gone, and Acer was busy. Number 25 was once again in a situation where he would be alone.
Taking a deep breath, Number 25 cautiously asked Acer. He had felt envious after hearing that Hilda had gone outside.
“Master, if it’s okay with you, could I take a short walk in the territory…”
Acer, who usually granted Number 25’s requests, replied sharply before Number 25 could even finish speaking.
“Absolutely not.”
“I see… I’m sorry for saying something strange.”
After all, how could a slave freely wander around outside? It was a ridiculous idea from the start. Number 25 understood this logically, but he had asked just in case.
Acer’s heart softened again at Number 25’s dejected appearance. He asked, wanting to at least know the reason.
“Why do you want to go out?”
“I just want to clear my head and see more of the territory that you personally decorated, Master.”
Acer scratched his head with the back of his seal, looking troubled.
“Even if I personally manage the territory, I’m still worried. I can’t send a man alone to a place full of women. Unless someone else goes with you.”
“Are you saying it’s okay if someone goes with me?”
Number 25 turned his head and looked directly at Acer’s face with shining eyes. His softened heart was completely shattered by that gaze.
“Well, if Charlotte or a close maid goes with you, I suppose it would be okay to go shopping or something?”
That was practically permission.
Acer seemed to have made up his mind. He placed the seal on the desk and opened the drawer underneath, taking something out with a clinking sound and placing it in Number 25’s hand.
“Here, this is spending money. You’ll need it if you want to eat something outside, right? I think this should be enough, but tell me if you need more. I can give you as much as you need.”
What Acer placed in Number 25’s hand was one silver coin and ten copper coins. He probably wouldn’t need silver coins just to buy snacks in the territory, but it was always better to have more money.
Still, his worries hadn’t completely disappeared. Acer reiterated, as if emphasizing.
“Make sure to bring someone with you, and come back before dinner time.”
“Yes, thank you!”
Number 25 put the coins in his pocket and smiled brightly. Seeing that smile, Acer cleared his throat and pointed to his lips.
“Well… if you’re grateful, I’d like you to show me some appreciation…”
Without hesitation, Number 25 brought his face to Acer’s lips. Acer’s lips still carried the sweet scent of the apple he had eaten earlier. Number 25 pulled back, his face flushed, after a deep kiss like lovers.
“You really like kissing, Master.”
“It’s not that I like kissing, it’s that I like kissing you.”
Number 25 got off Acer’s lap, bowed, and left the office with a lighter step. Acer watched Number 25’s retreating figure, touching his lips with a regretful expression and waving goodbye.
As Number 25 walked down the hallway, he thought about the companion Acer had mentioned.
Charlotte was the first person who came to mind, but she was too busy to even spend time with him. He didn’t want to bother her with such a trivial matter.
Besides, if he went out with Charlotte, he would likely be swayed by her whims and wouldn’t be able to enjoy his walk. It wasn’t that he disliked Charlotte, but he wanted to go out with someone on a more equal footing, at least for today.
Someone on an equal footing?
There was one more person.
Number 25 thought of Hilda, whom he had irresponsibly left in his room earlier. He didn’t really expect her to still be there, but he headed to his room just in case.
Fortunately, Hilda was still there.
However, there was one problem. Hilda, like Charlotte had done before, had buried her face in Number 25’s blanket and was vigorously rubbing her crotch against the edge of the bed, having pulled up the skirt of her uniform.
